sisum



under such circumstances.l In case this appendage is omitted, the. cutters may be allowed to traverse in their elevated position for a considerable period Withouty serious damage. r Y

I fix the guard-fingers F at uniform d' :tonces apart, and I tix the points ofthe cutters at uniform distances apart; but the distance between the points of the cutters is greater than the distance between the cen. tres ofthe guard-fingers. In other words, the spaces between the knives and the spaces betr/'een the'iiingers do not agree. It follows that the resistance due to the mowing is not experienced on all the cutters at the saule time, but the strain is distributed. Nhile one cutter has compressed its grass against the guardiinger, and is exerting its maximum force in cutting, another on one side is just commencing to compress the grass, and another, a little ou the other side, has

just completed its cut. I esteem this distribution of the strain, so that it shall be nearly uniform at all times upon the chain, a rery inxportnut feature of my invention.

It will be readily seen, that uy this inode of oper ating cutters, only one edge of each cutter is made available at one time; but I so construct niy circhi of cutters that it may be turned over, and the other edge of each cutter used,so soon as the first edge has become dull. To eiiect this, it is necessary .that the edges should be berelled in opposite directions, as is illustrated in figs. 5, 6, and hse-rre, I do not reverse the motion of in y chain of cutters in the ease E. 0n the contrary, the motion of the chain of cut ters is aliruys in the saine direction, preferably toward the main frame A. But by opening the case 1 5, which maybe Areadily done by the removal of a few screwboits, and liiting the chaincf cutters out, and turning it entirely o\je1',and rc-enclosing'it in the case E, I ain y ahlelto use the new edges, properly bevelled for this change of position, many hours longer'.-

`In grinding my cutters, the folding of the chain greatly facilitates the presentation of each cuttingedge to be ground on-an ordinary griudstone.

it will, ot' course, be observed that the chain of cutters lmust bemadc with the cutting-blade in Athe centre ofthe thickness ofthe chain, in order to allowit to be successfully reversed., l do not esteem it absolutely essential to thesuccess of other features of my invention thatthe chain'be made thus reversible; but I esteem it an important means of increasing the usefulness of the machine.

and thus to-run successfully for l do not confine nivsell 4to lnelszinr the franicwork A 'of metal, nor to inounting the swinging frame D and its connections in the .exact position here indicated. Figs. 8 and 9 show a modification of the construction, which may for some reasons be preferred." In this modilication, the fra1n e-work A extends outside of the driring-gear B. This gear-wheel B is niadesmaller,

the frame E and its connections cannot, of course,'

swing over into the horizontal position but cail'be Aturned up into a vert-ical position, and can be held there by any suitablehook or other instelling. 'To

facilitate this change of position, I should, iti-such', ease, make the wheel H in a form appr .iriinating to a sphere.

I propose to balance, or partially balance the 'machine by the weight of the drivel', and to adopt any approved, arrangement of reels, rakers, or the like, to dispose of the grain. in gavels or otherwise, when iuy machine is used for reaping. Qrdinarily the front of the machine will be the heaviest, and I hare represented it as supported by a single small wheel mounted in va. su'ivi'elling stand.

rlhe annuals may be attached in any approved manner.-

Haring now fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. In combination with the endless chain M 1n, casing E, enclosing the sanieand allowing the cutters to prosA trude, the framework D, gear-wheels H and B', and the hinged joint C c, so arranged 4that the chain of cutters and their connections muy be turned' upon the axis C'c, and thus raised out of contact with the ground, for convenient travelling, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. Constructing theendlesschain of harvestingcutters M Annu'ith the cutters m mounted centrally' iu.

the thickness ofthe chain M., and bevelled in opposite directions on Vtheopposite "cutting-edges, so that the chain may -be reversed in, position audfboth edges made available, substantially' in the manner and for the purposes herein vsei forth.

'In testimonyl whereof, I have hereunto s t my name, in. the presence. of two subscribing Witnesses.-

` WM. H. H.' SISUM.

Witnesses WM, H. Sampson,

THOMAS D. Srnrsox. 

